Enhancing Ability to Prevent, Recognize & Respond to Opioid Overdose in Your Organization

Outline Overdose preparedness at your organization Overdose Prevention Early Identification of Overdoses Responding to overdoses at work Working together Debriefing and Support Your organization’s overdose policy Introduction to the Facility Overdose Response Box program

Why Overdose Preparedness? Like planning for fires or earthquakes Know where the highest risk areas are? Know what to do if there is one To make sure you are ready: Do regular drills

Overdose Preparedness If this was preparing for a fire you might ask: Where are fires most likely to occur? Where are fires least likely to be detected promptly? Based on your answers you may choose to: place a smoke detector outside the kitchen (high fire risk area) place a smoke detector outside your bedroom (sleep makes you less likely to notice a fire)

1. a) Overdose Prevention

Review: Risk Factors for Fatal OD Environmental Quiet Corners Bathrooms Sleeping Social Shame/Stigma Drug Use is Illegal – Fear of negative consequences Individual Tolerance Substance(s) Used Route of Administration

How we integrate prevention into day-to-day operations

Integrating your knowledge of overdose prevention into your work Understanding the risk factors for overdose and learning tips for safer use can facilitate strengths based conversations with your clients about lowering their risks of overdose Activity: Take turns practicing having discussions about overdose prevention.

1. b) Early Identification of Overdoses Naloxone is most effective when given soon after an overdose begins – when the person has not been without oxygen for very long.

Types of Stigma Vertical Stigma Lateral Stigma Internalized Individual Peers Individual Results: Restrictions on Participation Social Exclusion Poor Quality of Life

Why is it important to promote compassion and inclusion? This can increase the comfort level of your clients in notifying staff promptly of overdoses without fear of negative consequences Remember: Clients may experience stigma (internal or lateral) even when staff are non-judgmental

Discussion: How might stigma affect your clients?

Discussion Questions: Where are overdoses likely to occur? How can you ensure you identify overdoses early? How can you involve clients?

Overdose Preparedness Discussion: How are staff at your organization going to work together increase likelihood of identifying overdoses early?

2. Responding to Overdoses at Work

Delegating and Working Together Our Shift Change Checklist Why do we have it? What is on it? Let’s practice using it

Delegating and Working Together Our Overdose Response Protocol Discussion: What roles need to be filled? How can we work together?

Accessing Support After an OD What immediate supports are available? What longer term supports are available? What does support look like to you?

3. The Organization’s Overdose Policy

Policy on Opioid Overdose Overview of the organization’s policy on staff responding to opioid overdose

Off-Site Overdoses What are the guidelines for staff if overdoses occur off-site? What are the guidelines for staff on outreach (if applicable)

Maintaining Competency Know what to do To administer naloxone staff must possess specific competencies. Staff competency will be maintained through practice drills and yearly refresher training.

Let’s do a practice drill What did we do well? What do we need to work on? How can we make drills more realistic in the future?

4. The Facility Overdose Response Box Program

Care and Storage of Naloxone Location of Facility Overdose Response Box Monitoring Inventory Levels Use of the Naloxone Tracking Log Monitoring Expiry Dates Expiry Date

Requirements for Giving Naloxone Comply with the organization’s policies & protocols Possess the competencies for the Facility Overdose Response Box Program No one is ever required to give naloxone Employees that do not meet these requirements can still call 911 and perform rescue breathing, which are lifesaving actions

Mandatory Documentation After Naloxone Administration Organization’s Critical Incident Report Facility Overdose Response Box Naloxone Administration Form All 15 questions are required Form will be faxed to BCCDC when completed Orders for new naloxone will not be filled unless documentation for the naloxone used has been received by BCCDC

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?